Bulge in Wing Keel Lead

[Panamajames]

I saw a 2003 Hunter 466 yesterday with a wing keel. There is a bulge in the wing where is close to fin. What causes the lead to bulge up and has the appearance of being cracked which it is. It is about a 12 inch by 5 inch bulge upward like something inside is trying to get out. What is making that happen and is it normal.. ? Does it need to be repaired or filled or ?

[cdennyb]

got a picture of it?

[donradcliffe]

The coating is probably blistering off the lead. You can ignore it, or you can

1. take a knife and cut the blister out
2. Sand the area with a 4 inch angle grinder (use something like 36 grit), beveling out the edges into undamaged coating. If there are any holes or cracks in the lead, grind them out (any moisture under the new coating will cause it to lift off).
3. Immediately coat with epoxy resin (lead oxidises quickly)
4. Fill and fair with epoxy putty

If you find that the lead has been distorted due to a collision, hammer it back into shape as best as you can, then proceed with step 2

[TaoJones]

Before working with lead, Panamajames, be sure you take all of the appropriate safety precautions (breathing apparatus, skin and eye protection).

TaoJones

[FloridaWriter]

It is probably not lead in that area, but some sort of fairing compound that has been saturated with water. At best, it is difficult to get a good bond to lead, and if it is some sort of cheap water soluble "bondo" type fairing compound, the problem is only exacerbated .

[clockwork orange]

We had a Boat in the yard last year that had just what you said happening (conventional fin keel) It was bulged out on one side, i drilled into it and a lot of water came out,i believe that water had been getting in around the keel joint and going down a bolt into an air pocket from when it was cast.We injected it with epoxy and milled fiber and it took a lot.We are in the great lakes region so the water that got in and froze over the winter and thereis no stopping that expansion,may not be the same where you are though although maybe the boat came from somewhere where it freezes.
Steve.